Envira Gallery Blog

How to Add a HDR Effect to Your Images in Photoshop

Do you want to add a HDR effect to your photos? Portraits can look especially stunning with the HDR style. In this article, we will share how to add a HDR effect to your images in Photoshop.

Creating a HDR Effect in Photoshop

The first thing you should do is open your portrait in Photoshop.

Let’s start by creating a duplicate layer of the image. That way, if you make a mistake, you can start over from scratch anytime.

To create a duplicate layer, right click on the image layer inside the Layers panel on the righthand side and select ‘Duplicate Layer’.

Now you should convert this duplicate layer into a smart object. Simply right-click on the duplicate layer you just created and select ‘Convert to Smart Object’. (This will allow you to fine-tune your settings later, without having to start all over.)

Next, go to Image » Adjustments » Shadow/Highlights.

In the Shadows/Highlights dialog box, adjust the settings to brighten up the shadows of the photo. This will start to create that HDR effect. We used the following settings:

ShadowsAmount:60%Tonal Width:55%Radius:100px

You can leave the other settings as-is.

After you’ve adjusted the shadows, go to Filter » Sharpen » Unsharp Mask to add some sharpness and definition to your photo.

In the Unsharp Mask dialog box, use the following settings:

Amount:85%Radius:5.0Threshold:0

This will really make the eyes pop.

Lastly, you’ll need to add just a bit more depth to your photo.

Click on the circular icon at the bottom right corner of your screen (beneath the Layers panel) and select ‘Brightness/Contrast’.

Leave the Brightness as-is, and set the Contrast to 40.

That’s all. You can see the before and after image below:

You can use the settings above to add a HDR effect for most of your portrait shots. However, we recommend testing small variations as needed to get the perfect effect for your image.

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